Politicians Are Divided, Selfish And Without Charisma!

Where has all the charisma of British politics gone? I find myself sat here watching the news every day, wondering where on earth the people that, with a little change in mindset and determination, could become the conviction politicians of yesteryear.

I often find myself wondering whether it’s times like this we would be better off with a more outspoken politician, such as Boris Johnson. Then again, I wonder whether politicians such as Johnson would be trusted at this current point in our history. We face Brexit, something that Johnson has consistently and repeatedly in the past few weeks criticised Theresa May’s handling of it.

Yet, on the other side of government, we face the same problem. We do not have a politician with the conviction of Churchill, or Attlee instead, we face an age of politicians that aim to keep their jobs rather than stand up for the policies and beliefs that they were elected for. We have politicians that are more interested in personal gain than societies. We have politicians that continuously overshadow policies with their personalities. This not only poisons good policies because of public dislike of an individual but can also delay discussion and debate surrounding them.

I have been decried for my beliefs of Churchill by my ex-girlfriend and by many other young people that say to show support in Churchill is to support colonialism. However, I feel the support of Churchill’s mannerisms and charisma are something completely separate and should be encouraged. He managed to motivate a nation in its darkest hour, managed to mobilise the British people in a way never before seen or comprehended in the wartime spirit. I believe that once again we face a possible crisis that needs charisma and conviction like Churchill’s; Brexit is the unknown. We need to accept that as a nation. Yet, the way that we deal with it doesn’t need to be unknown.

How can we deal with a united Europe when we ourselves are divided? Instead of making Brexit a problem of personality, we must make it a problem of our (the UK’s) collective future. We are leaving the European Union. I voted to stay within the European Union, yet I accept that we chose to leave. The decision has been made. Therefore now is not the time to be arguing amongst ourselves, but instead to be providing a real, legitimate and trustworthy platform for the UK to deal and negotiate with Europe. We complain that Europe does not take us seriously.

That they want us to fail. Granted they may not want to see the UK flourish, yet can you blame them for not taking us seriously? We have politicians squabbling within their own party. We are regularly made an embarrassment by the Prime Minister having to fend off criticism from even her closest allies about our Brexit plan. There is no united front. We have a prime minister that will not disclose the Brexit plans to her public and peers. “Brexit means Brexit,” she says. Again no united front, instead of a loss leader. Is there really any wonder why Europe will not take us seriously?

We do not have a Churchill of today. We do not have a visionary like Atlee. We are lacking politicians with conviction, passion, and compassion. Unless one of the individuals currently sitting in the House of Commons develops all of these characteristics in the next couple of weeks, I dread to think how the negotiations over these final crucial months will pan out.

However, Brexit turns out I’m sure we will be prepared. I do not buy into the fear-mongering that certain publications and media outlets espouse daily and weekly. Yes, there is a danger we may have to pay more for goods. Yes, there is also the danger that we may have yes there is also the danger that we may have to an entrance fee into the countries that were once free. Yes, there is one thing for certain, the UK will not implode. Uncertain times lie ahead that is for undeniable, yet how we choose to deal with them can determine whether uncertainty will reign supreme or whether the Spirit of Churchill and resilience still lives within British people. I for one believe it still does.